Last week I tried to have a Reese Signature series 5er hitch installed in my `06 F-350. For those not familiar with this hitch, the mounting bracket fits under the bed so that when the hitch is removed, one has unobstructed use of the bed.

Reese does not have a part number for an `06 bracket so after confirming that the frame has not changed for `06, the `05 bracket was ordered. Well, I guess the frame may be the same, but the shock mounting is certainly different. The shock mounting brackets are in a new location for `06 and one of them is right where the hitch bracket is supposed to go. Reese says they have not tried to put one on an `06 yet so they do not have a solution. I have the TowBoss package as wel as he FX4 Off Road package. The latter provides Rancho shocks. I wouldn't think that this option qould cause a relocation of the shock brackets, but nothing would surprise me. So I don't know if the new bracket location is common to all `06 Super Duty's.

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Last week I tried to have a Reese Signature series 5er hitch installed in my `06 F-350. For those not familiar with this hitch, the mounting bracket fits under the bed so that when the hitch is removed, one has unobstructed use of the bed.

Reese does not have a part number for an `06 bracket so after confirming that the frame has not changed for `06, the `05 bracket was ordered. Well, I guess the frame may be the same, but the shock mounting is certainly different. The shock mounting brackets are in a new location for `06 and one of them is right where the hitch bracket is supposed to go. Reese says they have not tried to put one on an `06 yet so they do not have a solution. I have the TowBoss package as wel as he FX4 Off Road package. The latter provides Rancho shocks. I wouldn't think that this option qould cause a relocation of the shock brackets, but nothing would surprise me. So I don't know if the new bracket location is common to all `06 Super Duty's.

I installed that same hitch (18K) on my new 05 Ford F350 CC DRW 4/4 LB, and one of the shock mounts got in the way of one of the bolts in the side plates. They supplied a "pull bolt stud" that had to be installed from the inside of the frame and pulled through the hole that I had to enlarge to 21/32". I think the offending shock was on the right side, and the hole was on the right side of the side plate. If yours changed from last year, and Reese did not know, it would not suprise me. I had some dealings with them over problems with the hitch head, explained the problem,(would not close automatically as it should have) and they could not grasp the issue. Turned out that they manufactured it and forgot to install a spring. They sent me the spring to install by myself, and were not interested in swapping mine for a fully assembled one. The spring was "bear to install. Had to make a custom tool. Not to impressed with Reese tech service, but do like my hitch now.

I posted this for informational information only. I'll stick to Reese thank you very much. Never had a problem with a Reese hitch so I see no reason to change now. the only reason I was interested in the Signature series is the under bed mounting and I needed a larger capacity hitch anyway. But the in bed mounting doesn't get in my way at all.

threevagabonds - Thanks. wish I had known this a few months ago. Oh well. At least other will know now. Thanks again.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by K-Star:
I posted this for informational information only. I'll stick to Reese thank you very much. Never had a problem with a Reese hitch so I see no reason to change now. the only reason I was interested in the Signature series is the under bed mounting and I needed a larger capacity hitch anyway. But the in bed mounting doesn't get in my way at all.

threevagabonds - Thanks. wish I had known this a few months ago. Oh well. At least other will know now. Thanks again. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>